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Today, we’re going to be taking a look at a phone case design that I’d not seen in person before. Generally, if you’re the sort to prefer a case, you’re probably opting for a thinner silicone option, or maybe something more robust from a brand that you are familiar with. With those, then, you have to put a tempered glass protector on as well. Sometimes getting those aligned can be tricky, to be sure. If you want to not mess with that, but still have full coverage protection, then something like what Miracase offers might be of interest.
You see, this particular Miracase design has a tempered glass screen protector built right into the front portion of the case, so you’ve got no worries about getting things aligned. Once it’s in place, the only opening on the front is for the speaker and the home button (or none, if you’ve got a button-less model), so the front camera and sensors are covered as well. Also rather unlike a stand-alone screen protector, you could remove and reinstall this case several times (that’s as far as I pushed it). This was quite interesting to see, as I’m more used to a screen protector that adheres in place, and if you peel it off, it’s not going to be going back on.
Once I had the Miracase installed, it was interesting to see that the front glass adhered quite nicely. I did open things back up to get some dust out, and then when I put it back together, still looked like a good install, with no air bubbles or gaps or anything. Touch sensitivity did not seem to be impacted, and colors came through cleanly. With the case fully installed, I felt like the plastic on the sides of the case provided decent grip (though the back is slippery, being clear plastic rather than TPU), and the bumpers there look like they’d help for shock protection.
Overally, the total Miracase install did not add much more bulk to the iPhone than any other slim case I’ve had on the phone. Now, the big question (especially for the glass) is how it is with fingerprints. I’ll say the front glass, while not as oleo-phobic as some protectors I’ve used, it wasn’t that bad on the front, and easily wiped away (however, the protector itself added some glare, so using it outside makes things harder to see). Where you will see a LOT of fingerprints is on the caseback, which is just plastic. In the photo below, you can see just after installing the case, there were already some prints.
Using the phone over the course of the day, the Miracase caseback picks up a lot of fingerprints, and you’ll find yourself constantly wiping it down, especially if you’ve got something on the back of the case that you want to show off, like a sticker or something. Oh, and speaking of the caseback – this had zero interference with wireless charging, so no worries in that regard.
So, in my use and my expectations, the Miracase was a mixed bag. I liked the overall wrapped effect and protection that the case provides, as well as the capability to show off your own artwork or stickers on the back of the case without actually having to stick something on. The amount I found myself wiping the case down, though, as well as the glare in the sun, would give me some pause. However, if you’re not wanting to mess around with getting a screen protector perfectly aligned, then the Miracase is one to check out, especially since it costs the same as a TPU case and inexpensive tempered glass screen protector. The one we reviewed goes for $18 on Amazon, and they also have versions that work for newer iPhone models up through the 13. You can check out the full range, and all their other accessories, over at miracase.com
